George W. E. Russell

George William Erskine Russell PC (3 February 1853 – 17 March 1919) was a British biographer, memoirist and Liberal politician.

Not to be confused with George William Russell (1867–1935) the writer and theosophist.

The Right Honourable
George W. E. Russell
Under-Secretary of State for India
In office
19 August 1892 – 21 June 1894
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byGeorge Curzon
Succeeded byThe Lord Reay
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
In office
12 March 1894 – 21 June 1895
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Rosebery
Preceded byHerbert Gladstone
Succeeded byJesse Collings
Personal details
Born(1853-02-03)3 February 1853
London, England
Died17 March 1919(1919-03-17) (aged 66)
London, England
Political partyLiberal
Alma materUniversity College, Oxford

Background and education

Russell was born in London, England, on 3 February 1853, the youngest son of Lord Charles Russell, sixth son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. His mother was Isabella Clarisa Davies, daughter of William Griffith Davies, of Penylan, Carmarthenshire.[1] He was educated at Harrow and University College, Oxford.[2]

Though he entered University College as a Scholar, he obtained only a Pass degree. Ill-health, particularly myelitis, put paid to any chance of academic distinction.

Political career

Russell was Liberal Member of Parliament for Aylesbury from 1880 to 1885,[3] and for Biggleswade from 1892 to 1895.[4] He was appointed by William Ewart Gladstone as Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board from 1883 to 1885 and as Under-Secretary of State for India from 1892 to 1894. Under Lord Rosebery he was Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1894 to 1895. He was also an Alderman on London County Council from 1889 to 1895. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1907, and held the honorary degree of LLD from St Andrews University. He was the author of the biography The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone (1891).[5] Russell was a journalist by profession, and a close ally of the Grand Old Man, a home ruler, when Gladstone presented the bill to the Commons for the second time on 13 February 1893.[6]

Personal life

Russell died, unmarried, at 18 Wilton Street, London, on 17 March 1919, aged 66.[1]

Photographs

The Victoria and Albert Museum's photograph of Russell can be seen online.[7]

Selected publications
  • The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone. 1891.[8]
  • Matthew Arnold. 1894. Russell, George William Erskine (1904). 2nd edition. ISBN 9781421963327.
  • Collections and recollections, by one who has kept a diary. 1898. 1903 edition.
  • Sydney Smith. 1904.[9]
  • Russell, George William Erskine (1907). Seeing and Hearing.[10]
  • Afterthoughts: Forty-six essays, mainly on English political, social and literary topics. 1912.
  • Politics and personalities, with other essays. 1917.[11]
  • Prime ministers and some others, a book of reminiscences. 1918.

References
  1. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com.
  2. "Debrett's House of Commons". London Dean – via Internet Archive.
  3. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)
  4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
  5. Russell, George W. E. (1891). The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone. London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Company. Retrieved 13 October 2017 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ed. David (1977) "Inside the Cabinet: from the Diares of Charles Hobhouse", 19
  7. Museum, Victoria and Albert. "G.W.E. Russell | Hollyer, Frederick | V&A Explore The Collections". Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections.
  8. "Review of The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone by G. W. E. Russell". The Churchman. 64: 461. 10 October 1891.
  9. "Review of Sydney Smith by G. W. E. Russell". The Oxford Magazine. The Proprietors. 23: 311. 10 May 1905.
  10. "Review of Seeing and Hearing by George W. E. Russell". T. P.'s Weekly. 9: 392. 29 March 1907.
  11. "Review of Politics and Personalities, with Other Essays by George W. E. Russell". The Book Buyer: A Monthly Review of American and Foreign Literature. XLII (10): 17. November 1917.
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